When preparing for the Camino, there comes a moment when the packing begins. And if you’re anything like me, that’s when you realize how different this journey is from every other trip.
There’s no need for formal wear. No books the size of small bricks. No laptop, not even a backup pair of black dress shoes. It’s just you, a backpack, and the stubborn truth that every ounce matters.
You start to weigh things—not just literally, but spiritually.
Do I really need that third shirt?
Do I really need to carry that old regret?
Do I really need to bring that “just in case” bit of anxiety?
Packing for the Camino is unlike any other packing I’ve done. It’s not about being prepared for anything. It’s about learning to trust that what I have is enough, and that what I need will be given.
That lesson isn’t only for my backpack. It’s for my soul.
Alongside the socks and sunscreen, I’ve been doing some spiritual packing too. Which, in truth, means spiritual unpacking.
I’ve been trying to lighten the load I don’t always see:
- Expectations about how “holy” the Camino should feel.
- The pressure to make it all “meaningful.”
- That quiet guilt I carry around like an over-packed toiletry kit.
Instead, I’m trying to leave room—for the voice of God, for the kindness of strangers, for surprise.
The more I strip away the extras, the more I remember why I’m going:
Not to escape, but to encounter.
Not to perform, but to be present.
Not to collect souvenirs, but to let go of what no longer serves.
So if you’re reading this and wondering what kind of spiritual journey you might be packing for—ask yourself:
What am I carrying that’s weighing me down?
What might I leave behind to make space for grace?
Follow My Camino Journey
I’ll be walking the Camino de Santiago beginning August 3rd, and blogging from the trail. If you’d like to walk with me—spiritually, virtually, or just in curiosity—you’re warmly invited to follow the journey here:
ddavidson.ca/blog_anglican_priest
There’ll be stories, photos, prayers, and the occasional reminder that God walks with us—even when our feet hurt.
Until then: pack light. Travel faithful.
And may your own path be blessed.
Buen Camino,
Fr. Don+